Conditions

Pterygium

Pterygium (surfer’s eye) is a growth on the cornea. While not usually a serious condition, pterygium has the potential to lead to astigmatism or to distort and reduce your vision if it approaches the pupil center.

Common Questions About Pterygium

What are the symptoms of pterygium?

Pterygium is a growth of fleshy tissue over the cornea that covers the colored part of the eye in one or both of the eyes. If you have pterygium, you’ll likely experience eye irritation, chronic red eyes, and excessive tearing. The condition can also cause an uncomfortable “foreign body sensation” in your eye.

What causes a pterygium?

Pterygium is most commonly attributed to sun exposure and seems to be most prevalent in people who live in tropical climates or in those who spend significant amounts of time exposed to sunlight. It’s typically seen in individuals between the ages of 20 and 40 and is likely to affect men more than women.

Significant risk factors for pterygium are believed to include:

Prolonged UV light exposure
Dry eye
Irritants like dust and wind

What surgical technique is used by most NVision surgeons?

NVISION surgeons typically remove the pterygium and use a free conjunctival graft with glue or glue and dissolvable sutures. We also sometimes use amniotic membranes.

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